governors
To renew America, we must renew our entrepreneurial spirit. As we celebrate our nation’s 250th startup birthday, every governor has the power to make a difference by taking simple, turnkey actions that put entrepreneurship back at the heart of the American narrative. 92% of voters say it’s difficult to start a business today. At the same time, 94% of voters, across party lines, agree that it’s vital to America’s future that everyone has a fair chance to start and grow a business.
America the Entrepreneurial, a campaign of Right to Start, is a national call to reignite the spirit of innovation that built our country.
America the Entrepreneurial, a campaign of Right to Start, is a national call to reignite the spirit of innovation that built our country.
Executive order
Entrepreneurship is the primary engine of economic prosperity, responsible for creating homegrown jobs, spurring innovation, and driving mobility across our communities. To support Governors moving from vision to implementation, we have developed a framework for executive action that streamlines the process of lowering barriers and expanding access to entrepreneurship. This model Executive Order provides a ready-to-use roadmap for any administration looking to place entrepreneurs at the center of their policy agenda.
State Spotlight: Oklahoma’s executive order
Governor Stitt signed Executive Order 2026-04 on January 29, 2026 designating an executive-level Chief Entrepreneurial Officer of Oklahoma. This designee will serve as the Governor's principal advisor on entrepreneurship matters and work to promote new business formation by coordinating policies, removing barriers, streamlining regulations, and serving as a voice for entrepreneurs at the state level. The Executive Order also directs specific actions, including creating a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs, reducing the cost of starting a business to $1, waiving or deferring early-stage business taxes, including young businesses in state contracting, embedding entrepreneurial skills in education, and strengthening performance metrics for entrepreneurship.
In the news
Participating in the campaign allows Governors to tap into a pro-entrepreneurship base and align with a nonpartisan effort gaining traction nationwide. Join Governor's around the country taking action:
- Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt made entrepreneurial history by signing Executive Order 2026-04. The landmark Executive Order makes Oklahoma the first state in the nation to create a Chief Entrepreneurial Officer, reporting directly to the Governor, and tackles everything from addressing startup fees, streamlining bureaucracy, and ensuring founders have a seat at the table.
- The Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) and its Office of Entrepreneurship joined America the Entrepreneurial as a Founding State.
Looking for more information? Visit our State Policy Resource page for key examples and more information, or connect with a member of our policy team at policy@righttostart.org.
